Tent



D. w. N'ORVELL NOV.

TENT

Filed April so, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nav. 22,, 1938 D. w. NORVELL 2,137,625

TENT v Filed April 30, 1955 2 Sheets-She et 2' ,Jfglsg Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE g I 'rEN'ri' Davie Noi'vell, Greensboro. N..C1'. Application April'30, 1935, Serial No.19,082 1' Claim (oi. 135 -4) vide a structure of this kind which can be'readily 1c and conveniently transported from. one location to another whereby it is particularly' desirab-le for use as a grave tent.

Another object of the invention is topro. vide a device of this kind including a sectional supporting frame, said sections being r'eadily' interchangeable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tent of this kind which is free ofanyinterior obstruction, such as a center pole and wherein the assembled structure provides i'a tent which willbe staunch and steady.

The invention consists in the details of-c'o'nstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved tent whereby certain important advantages are at tained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive. and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be herei'naftermore fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective ofa tent structure embodying my invention, the canopy being omitted but a side wall being in place;

Figure 2 is a View in perspective with the canopy or tent top applied and also showing a second side wall guyed up;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective from within of the tent top showing a means for attaching the same to the frame;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the lower portion of a corner post and the anchoring stake associated therewith;

Figure 5 is a view in top plan of theframe structure as herein disclosed;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view partly in section and partly in elevation of the upper portion of a corner post and the parts directly associated therewith;

Figure '7 is an elevational View of the crown member of the frame and certain of the parts directly engaged therewith;

Figure 8'is a fragmentary view partly in section andpartly in elevation showing the connection between'the sections of a top bar.

Asdisclosed in the accompanying drawings, my improved tent comprises a; frame structure F. This frame structure has the four corner posts I, the lower end portion of each of which being tubular and open at the end of the post. The op- 1 posite end portion of each of the posts I has engaged thereover and secured thereto a cap 2 and extending outwardly from said cap 2 at the axial center-of the post is a pin 3' rigid with thecap. The cap 2 has'radiating therefrom and" also with respect to the pin 3 the perpendicularly related Iu'gsd and midway between such lugs 4 and also radiating from the cap 2 and the pin 3 thereof is a third lug 5.

Straddling each of the lugs 4 is a bifurcated head 6 carried by an end. of a side bar and said head 6 1s pivotally secured, as at 8', to its lug 4. The various sidebars I are of the same length so that in its assembly the tent is square in top plan. This is of advantage as it does not require any predetermined arrangement of the corner posts but that they canbe interchangeably used to the same advantage. Each corner post 2 as is believed to be clearly understood, carries two sidebars I and the outer end portion of one of the bars-is tubular, as at II] in Figure 1, while the outer end portion of the second side bar I- carries a reduced extension II which is adapted to be snugly and telescopically received within the tubular portion ID of a bar I of another sectionof the frame. When the extension II is engaged within the telescopic portion II! the two bars I are coupled together by a cotter'pin I2 or the like readily insertible through suitably provided openings in the extension I I and thewalls of the tubular portion I0 into which said'extension I' I is received. To prevent loss of this pin I2 the same is anchored to a bar I in a conventional manner through the medium of a chain I4 or other desired flexible member of sufiicient length. g

When the frame. is disassembled the bar I of each section or unit will swing to a position alongside of the associated corner post I so that said section or unit will occupy a minimum of space and can be readily transported from one location to another asmay be desired.

The tent top or canopy T is cut to the required size with the sections assembled to assure the desired pitch of such top or canopy when applied.

The corners of the top or canopy T are reinforced, as at I5, and each of said reinforced portions is provided with an opening whereby said corner portion may be detachably engaged over an outstanding pin 3 of a corner post I.

In setting up the tent four suitably positioned stakes I6 are driven into the. ground with a sufficient portion of said stake extending above the ground level. To assure this extension above the ground I find it of advantage to provide the stake at a desired point intermediate its ends with a collar H which serves as a stop to limit the extent of penetration of the stake into the ground.

The lower tubular end portion of a corner post is then engaged over the upstanding portion of a stake I6 whereby said post is effectively maintained in desired vertical position. The side bars I of one post are then swung upwardly and coupled to the side bars 1 of the adjacent corner post in the manner as has hereinbefore been referred to. After this has been done the tent top or canopy T is then operatively connected at its corner portions with the pins 3 of the corner posts I. When this has been done the rafter structure R is applied. This rafter structure comprises a center head or crown member I8 which carries four lugs I9 radiating from the axial center of the head or crown member I8. These lugs are also equidistantly spaced around the member and each of said lugs I9 is straddled by a bifurcated head carried by an end of an elongated rafter member 2|. This head 20 is pivotally connected, as at 22, to the lug I9. The opposite end portion of the rafter member 2| is also provided with a bifurcated head 23 which isadapted to straddle a lug 5 and be detachably locked to such lug 5 by a cotter pin .24. This cotter pin 24 is carried by a chain or other flexible member 25 of desired length and which chain is suitably secured to the adjacent corner post whereby the pin 24 is held against loss.

Each of the cotter pins 24 can be readily re moved or applied and such application or removal is facilitated by having the lugs 5 below the lugs 4 or more particularly to have the pivotal connections as afforded by the pins 24 a sufficient distance below the pivotal connections 8 to allow ready access to the pins 24 by a person within the tent when setting up the structure.

The head or crown member I8 at its axial center is provided with an extended pin 26 and in applying the rafter structure this pin 26 is inserted from below through a suitably positioned opening provided in the central reinforced portion 21 of the tent top or canopy T and the operator then forces up the member I8 by each of thearms2l. i

The arms 2| of course are handled in turn and after each arm 2| has been moved upwardly to its limit its bifurcatedend 23 is secured to a lug 5 and after all four of the arms have been so manipulated the tent top or canopy T is effectively raised and held in working position. Although not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, when desired suitable guy ropes may be'engaged with the corner pins 3 and secured in the regular way to suitably positioned stakes.

The marginal portions of the tent top or canopy T as herein disclosed is each defined by an apron 28 and extending along the junction between each of the aprons 28 and the tent top or canopy T from within is a reinforcing strip 29. This strip-29 at desired points therealong has secured thereto buckle straps 30 whereby the marginal portion of the tent top or canopy T between adjacent corner posts I may be tied or secured to the adjacent side bars 1 and thus further hold the tent top or canopy T in position.

The sides of the tent structure may be closed by side curtains and in Figure 1 is illustrated one of said curtains C in position. The upper and side marginal portions of this curtain carry buckle straps 3| for engagement with the adjacent corner posts and the associated side bars 'I for holding said side curtain in position. As disclosed in Figure 1, the curtain C in its upper corners is provided with the flaps 32 which are engaged with the pins 3 of the corner posts.

In Figure 2 of the drawings I show a second applied side curtain C guyed up to serve either after the fashion of an awning or to increase the capacity of the tent. By having guyed up curtains at all four sides of the tent structure it will be obvious that the capacity of the tent will be materially increased.

The arms 2| as herein disclosed are each pref-v erably sectional so that they can be knocked down forconvenience in transportation. As particularly illustrated in Figure 8'the section of one arm 2| has a reduced extension 33 which is snugly and telescopically received within the hollow end portion of the adjacent section and coacting with said telescopically engaged parts is a holding bolt 34. I

The particular manner of attaching the bars I to the corner posts and the rafter members 2| to the corner posts I and to the head orcrown member I8, is such as to permit the frame to be effectively employed on an uneven surface such as is to be expected in a cemetery. This particular assembly readily permits of a material up and down variation of the corner postsI one, independently of the other and also a lateral swinging movement of the corner posts I.

I From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a tent constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly .well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason. I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my in-. vention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-- l

A supporting frame for a tent having a pyramid roof comprising corner posts, a side arm interposed between each pair of adjacent corner posts, means for pivotally connecting the extremities of the side arms to the upper end portions of the corner posts, a crown member, rafter. arms, means for pivotally connecting the upper end portions of the rafter arms to the crown member, and means for detachably and pivotally connect ing the lower end portion of each rafter arm to a corner post at a point below the pivotal connections of the side arms with said post, the pivotal,

connections for the side arms and rafter arms permitting independent up and down movement of each of the corner posts and also a lateral swinging movement of the corner posts.

DAVIE W. NORVELL. 

